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Ask the doctor: Is vinegar good for the arteries?

Updated: April 11, 2019

Published: October, 2009

Q. I've heard that apple cider vinegar can clean out the arteries. Is there any truth to that?

A. If you believe the stories written about apple cider vinegar, it is a miracle cure for just about anything that ails you, from curbing the appetite to detoxifying the body, boosting the immune system, treating arthritis, and improving circulation. That's a tall order for a brew made from fermented apples. But there's no evidence to back up most of these apple cider vinegar claims.

Acetic acid is the substance that gives vinegar its distinctive smell and sour taste. A synthetic cousin of acetic acid, called ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), attracts some dissolved metals. It is used in cases of lead, mercury, or iron poisoning to pull these metals out of the bloodstream. A dubious practice called chelation therapy involves repeated administration of EDTA. Chelation therapy is hyped as a way to clean out the arteries by dissolving cholesterol-filled plaque. This is based on wishful thinking, not science.

Apple cider vinegar is a terrific ingredient in foods, sauces, and dressings. It isn't medicine. Taking too much apple cider vinegar can lower blood potassium levels and may not be good for your bones. If you choose to take a tablespoon or so a day, rinse out your mouth afterward — straight apple cider vinegar can erode the enamel on your teeth.

— Richard Lee, M.D.Former Associate Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Image: alicjane | iStock/Getty Images

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Daily Health Tip

Follow a heart-healthy diet

Eating to protect your heart also helps protect you from diabetes and many cancers. Basic elements of a healthy diet include lots of plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains; modest servings of lean protein, like fish and poultry; relatively little red meat; and the use of unsaturated fats like olive oil.